Apparatus and method for performing an intrastromal abdominal trachelectomy

Abstract

A method for performing an intrastromal abdominal trachelectomy, which is comprised of the steps of inserting a cutting guide into a female cervix, anchoring said cutting guide within said cervix, and making a plurality of incisions within said cervix using said cutting guide. In one embodiment, an apparatus for performing an intrastromal abdominal trachelectomy, which is comprised of a cutting guide for use in making an incision in a female cervix, an elongated member adapted to be inserted into said cervix, and a stabilizer that is adapted to be anchored onto a tissue of said cervix.

1 . An apparatus for performing an intrastromal abdominal trachelectomy comprising:
 a cutting guide for use in making an incision in a female cervix;   an elongated member adapted to be inserted into said cervix; and   a stabilizer adapted to be anchored onto a tissue.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said cutting guide has two opposite sides. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said cutting guide is integrally coupled on its first side with a deployment handle. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said cutting guide is integrally coupled on its second side with said elongated member. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said elongated member is integrally coupled with said stabilizer. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said stabilizer is positioned laterally on a distal end of said elongated member that is opposite said cutting guide. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said elongated member and stabilizer are guided into said cervix by use of said deployment handle toward an internal os region of said cervix. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said tissue is a middle portion of a cervical canal of said cervix. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said stabilizer is adapted to be attached onto said middle portion of said cervical canal so as to hold said cutting guide in place. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said cutting guide is adapted to be situated on a center area of a pericervical ring of said cervix. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said cutting guide defines a substantially circular shape for incision within said cervical canal without severing said pericervical ring. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 :
 wherein said cutting guide has a width ranging from 0.2 cm to 0.3 cm and a diameter ranging from 1.7 cm to 2.3 cm;   wherein said elongated member is substantially cylindrical in shape and has a length ranging from 4.0 cm to 4.4 cm and an inner diameter ranging from longitudinally from 0.3 cm to 0.6 cm; and   wherein said deployment handle is substantially cylindrical in shape and has a length ranging from 1.0 cm to 1.5 cm and a diameter ranging from 0.4 cm to 0.8 cm.   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said stabilizer:
 has a length ranging from 0.8 cm to 1.2 cm;   is positioned between 0.8 cm to 1.2 cm below the distal end of said elongated member that is opposite said cutting guide; and   is positioned at a 30 degree angle that faces in the direction of said cutting guide.   
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said cutting guide, said elongated member, said deployment handle are comprised of acetal plastic; and wherein said stabilizer is made of a flexible steel material that is coated with acetal plastic. 
   
   
       15 . A method for performing an intrastromal abdominal trachelectomy, comprising the steps of:
 inserting a cutting guide into a female cervix;   anchoring said cutting guide within said cervix; and   making a plurality of incisions within said cervix using said cutting guide.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of steering said cutting guide into said cervix by use of a deployment handle that is integrally coupled on a first side of said cutting guide;
 wherein said cutting guide is integrally coupled to an elongated member on its second side, and   wherein said elongated member is integrally coupled with a stabilizer positioned laterally on a distal end of said elongated member that is opposite said cutting guide.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of inserting said elongated member and stabilizer into a cervical canal of said cervix from a vaginal region below said cervix toward an internal os region of said cervix. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of anchoring said cutting guide to maintain its position on said pericervical ring by attaching said stabilizer on a middle portion of said cervical canal region of said cervix. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the steps of:
 making a plurality of substantially circular incisions around said cutting guide within said cervical canal until said vaginal region is reached; and   reducing blood loss by separately performing each said substantially circular incision in intervals of 0.5 cm.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of removing said cervix after making said plurality of substantially circular incisions within said cervical canal without having severed any of the surrounding nerves or pelvic support system of said pericervical ring.